Time recording



Sept. 22, 1931. E. KITTREDGE ET AL TIME RECORDING Filed June 22, 1927 3Sheets-Sheet l [was 5 Knmme: Lou/s A. DOE/'7 Arromvsw Sept. 22, 1931.1.. E. KITTREDGE ET AL 1,823,944

TIME RECORDING Filed June 22, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 II# 77 I Q 4 412 [Lii Mam: Z/NUS E/OrT/PEDGE [00/5 A00RFF by C W ATmR/VEY TIME RECORDINGFiled June 22, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

Patented Sept. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LINUS E. KITTREDGE,OF BROOKLYN, AND LOUIS A. DORFF, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGNORS TO AMERICAN TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMIANY, A CORPORA- TIONOF NEW YORK TIME RECORDING Application filed June 22,

This invention relates to time recording and its object is to improvethe method of and apparatus for making and analyzing time records intelephone systems.

According to the invention a time record of telephone apparatus may bemade and analyzed by punching a tape in such manner that the location ofthe perforation determines not only the holding time of the apparatusbut the time of seizure as well.

feature of the invention is a tape perforating device havin a series ofperforating pins arranged diagonally across the width of the tape. Bythis arrangement the position of the perforation along the tape marksthe time the apparatus is seized and its distance from the tapes edgeindicates the holding time.

Another feature is a device. for analyzing the prepared tape todetermine the total number of holding times of any given duration andthe number of pieces of apparatus in use simultaneously at any giventime.

The invention is particularly applicable to time recording devices foruse in studying the trafiic in telephone exchange systems. For example,it is desirable to examine from time to time the trafiic conditions in agroup of trunks. One of the important items is the holding time of thetrunks and another is the time of day when the trunks are taken intouse. In the system disclosed it is proposed to make a record of theinformation concerning a group of trunks by perforating a moving tape.

The paper tape is marked along its length according to the time of dayand has a width suflicient to include the longest holding time ofinterest. Beneath the tape is arranged a series of punch pins withselecting and operating magnets. These pins are arranged diagonallyacross the width of the tape. By starting certain time mechanism inoperation when a trunk is seized, it may be made to select, on releaseof the trunk, the particular pin in the diagonal series which is locatedfrom the edge of the tape a distance corresponding to the holding timeof the trunk. Inasmuch as thepins are arranged diagonally theperforation of the 1927. Serial No. 200,733.

tape will occur on a perpendicular to the edge of the tape coincidingwith the time of day at which the trunk was seized. Thus at a glance asingle perforation indicates both the time of seizure and the holdingtime of the trunk.

The timing mechanism consists of a stepping switch arrangement whichoperates during the interval the trunk is engaged to measure the holdingtime. When the trunk is released this counting mechanism selects andoperates the proper punch pin selecting magnet.

The invention is illustrated in Figures to 6 of the drawings. Fig. 1shows a top view of the tape perforating mechanism. Fig. 2 shows a sideview of sald mechanism. Fig. 3 illustrates a detail of the punchingdevice. Fig. 4 shows the timing mechanism. Fig. 5 illustrates the tapeanalyzing device. Fig. 6 shows a portion of perforated tape,

Referring to. Figs. 1 to 3, a description will first be given of thetape perforating mechanism. The table 1, supported by the standards 2and 3, serves to support and guide the paper tape 6 during its movement.The tape roll 4 is rotatably supported at one end of the table and thedriving shaft 22, having sprockets 5 and 23, is arranged at the oppositeend. The shaft 22 is driven by any suitable source of power 65 and bymeans of the sprocket wheels 5 and 23 causes the tape to pass over thesurface of the table 1. The speed of the moving tape may be chosen tocorrespond to any suitable scale of time printed or otherwise markedalong the edge of the tape.

Located beneath the table 1 is a series of punch pins including the pins17 l8, 19, 26, 27 and 28. These pins are supported by springs such asthe springs 29, 30 and 31 secured to the support 35. These pins arearranged along a diagonal so that each successive pin occurs at asuccessively increasing distance from the edge of the tape. Thisdistance from the punch pin to the edge of III sents the greatestholding time. The punch pins are provided with individual selectingmagnets 7,8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. These magnets have armatures to whichare attached the arms 14,15,16 32, 33 and 34.. These arms are normallyout of alignment with the punch pins but when their magnets areenerglzed they project to a point between the end of the punch pin andthe punch bar 20. The punch bar 20 is common to all punch pins and isrotated by the common operating magnet 24.

- From this it will be seen that to perforate the tape at any particularpoint it is only necessary to energize the proper selecting magnet suchas magnet 13 shown in Fig. 3. Magnet 13 attracts its armature and movesthe arm 34 under the punch pin 28. Thereafter the magnet 24 operates,attracting its armature 36 to rotate the punch bar 20, moving the punchpin 28 upward to perforate the tape 6. When the magnet 24 releases,spring 37 restores the punch bar 20. The magnet 13 on releasing allowsthe spring 38 to withdraw the arm 34. The pin 28 is restored to itsnormal position by the spring 31.

A description will now be given of the manner in which the time countingmechanism is seized and operated, when the trunk becomes busy, for thepurpose of o crating the tape perforating mechanism. Iii Fig. 4 threetrunks 40, 41 and 42 are diagrammatically shown which may be seized byautomatic selector switches represented by the brushes 43, 44, and 45.For each trunk to be studied there is an individual selecting mechanismS-l. The mechanism S-1 shown in full is individual to the trunk 40 andconsists of a step-by-step switch having the brushes 53 to 58 inclusiveand a number of relays. Another individual mechanism S2 is schematicallyillustrated. These individual mechanisms have access to a number ofcommon time counting devices. One of these devices T1 is shown in fulland comprises three step-by-step switches, 60, 70 and 80, together witha number of relays. A second time counting device, T-2 is alsoillustrated.

Assume that the trunk 40 is seized and held for a given time. Uponseizure of trunk 40 a relay 46 operates and closes an obvious operatingcircuit for relay 47. Relay 47 operates the differential relay 49 in acircuit from battery, to the outer contact of relay 47, outercontact ofrelay 48, inner left back contact of relay 50, left winding of relay 49to ground at the contact of relay 50. Relay 49 operates and closes theinterrupting circuit of the stepping magnet 66 which starts the switchto hunt for an idle time counting device. The terminals correspondin tobusy timing devices will be grounded in the bank cooperating with thewiper 53. As soon, however, as the wiper 53 reaches an ungroundedterminal, a circuit is completed from ground, through the 0011- tact ofrelay 50, right winding of relay 49, middle contacts of relays 48 and47, normal contact of relay 51, wiper 53, through the right back contactof relay 64, resistance 67 to battery. Current flowing through the rightwindin of relay 49 neutralizes the effect of the le t winding and allowsthe relay to release. Relay 49 in releasing opens the stepping circuitof the switch, allowing it to come to rest. Ground potential istemporarily applied to the test terminal through the right winding ofrelay 49 as previously traced to prevent seizure of the timing device T1by another individual switch. Relay 49 operates the slow operating relay50. The circuit may be traced from ground through the back contact ofrelay 49, winding 0 relay 50, outer contacts of relays 48 and 47 tobattery. Relay 50 disconnects both windings of relay 49 and closes thefollowing circuit for applying ground potential to the test terminal ofthe selecting switch; through the inner right contact of relay 50,middle contacts of relays 48 and 47, contact of relay 51 to the wiper53.

Relay 50 operates the relays 59 and 69 to start the switch 60 inoperation to count time. A circuit for these relays may be traced frombattery, through their windings in parallel, wiper 54, back contacts ofrelays 51 and 52 to ground at the contact of relay 50. Relay 59 inoperating closes a circuit for the stepping magnet 61 of the timingswitch 60. This circuit leads from battery through the winding of themagnet, contact of relay 59, through the commutator 71 to ground. Thecommutator 71 is driven by the motor mechanism which also operates themoving tape. The commutator 71 may be cut and geared in such a mannerthat it closes the above mentioned circuit at periodic intervals, sayevery five seconds. Thus the magnet 61 operates every five seconds andsteps the brushes 62 and 63 from one set of terminals to the next. Onthe first step of the switch a circuit is closed from ground through thebrush 62 and the winding of slow release relay 64 to battery. Relay 64operates and extends the grounded conductor throu h its right frontcontact to the terminal bars: 53 maintaining the timing device T-1non-selective.

It will be assumed that the holding time of the trunk 40 in the presentinstance is not great enough to allow the switch 60 to step over itsentire bank. Suppose that the trunk 40 is released at the instant thewiper 63 reaches the terminal 72. The release of the trunk removesground from relay 47 and this relay deenergizes in turn releasing relay50. Relay 50 opens the circuit of relays 59 and 69. Relay 59 releasesimmediof relay 64, wiper 62, termlnal ately'but relay 69 being slow torelease maintains its armature for an interval. During this interval, acircuit is completed for operating the proper punch selecting magnet.This circuit may be traced from ground through the right contacts ofrelays 59 and 69, wiper 63, terminal 72 through the right winding ofmagnet 73 to battery. Magnet 73 locks through its left winding and frontcontact to ground through the back contact of the common punch magnet24.

The slow relay 69 on releasing after an interval completes a circuitfrom battery through the winding and contact of magnet 61, outer rightcontact of relay 69, contact of relay 64, wiper 62 to ground. Magnet 61interrupts its circuit and steps the switch 60 until the wiper 62 passesoff the When the wiper 62- grounded terminals. reaches the terminal 74 anew circuit is completed for relay 64 from battery through its winding,wiper 62, terminal 74 to ground at the back contact of relay 69. Thestepping magnet 69 is now operated in a circuit from battery through itswinding and contact, right contact of relay 69 left contact 74, toground at the back contact of relay 69. The switch takes one more stepinto its normal position whereupon relay 64 releases.

I The selecting magnet 73 in operating advances the arm 75 under thepunch pin 76 preparatory to punching the tape. When the magnet 73 fullyoperates it closes a circuit from battery through the winding of theunch ma net 24, front contact of magnet 3 to the rush of commutator 77.As soon thereafter as the commutator 77 closes, the magnet 24' operatesand rotates the punch beam 20. The punch beam elevates the pin 76 andplaces a perforation in the tape. Magnet 24 in operating opens its backcontact releasing the magnet 73. Magnet 24 then releases restoring thepunch pin to its normal position.

It will next be assumed that the holding time of the trunk is greatenough to permit the switches 60 and 70 to operate fully and switch tooperate partially. When the switch 60 has advanced its brush .62 to theterminal 74 a circuit is completed for operating relay 78. The circuitof relay 78 may be traced from ground through the inner right contact ofrelay 50 thence as previously traced to the wiper 53, right front con.-tact of relay 64, wiper 62, terminal 74, front contact of relay 69,conductor 79, winding of relay 78 to battery. A circuit in parallel alsoextends from the grounded conductor 79 through the inner leftbackcontact of relay 81, wiper 56, left winding of relay 51, inner leftfront contact of relay 50, outer contacts of relays 48 and 47 tobattery. Relay 51 in operating first opens its outer right back contactto sever the circuit of rerelay 81.

lays 59 and 69. Relay 59 releases at once and relay 69 releases after aslight interval.

At the completion of its operation relay 51 opens its normally closedcontact to sever the circuit of slow release relay 64. If relay 64releases it is reo rated as soon as relay 69 releases in a clrcuitthroughthe left back contact of relay 69. When relay 69 completes itsrelease a circuit is closed for restoring the switch 60. This circuitmay be traced from battery through the winding and contact of magnet 61,contact of relay 69, left contact of relay 64, wiper 62, contact 74 toground at the left back, contact of relay 69. After an interval relay 64releases. Ground potential is thus removed from the multiple of wiperssimilar to the wiper 53 so that the timing mechanism T-1 may be seizedby another trunk and the switch 60 positioned to count a second holdingtime while the switches 70 and 80 are still in the act of counting thefirst holding time.

The relay 51 in operating locks in a circuit from battery through theouter left contact of relay 50, right winding and contact of relay 51,middle contacts of relays 47 and 48 to ground at the contact of relay50." Relay 78 closes an obvious circuit for Relay 78 looks in circuitfrom battery through its windin and outer left contact, Wiper 55, rightout contact of relay 51, right back contact of relay 52, to ground atthe middle left contact of relay 50. The second counting switch 70 isnow stepped from position to position under the control of thecommutator 71. The stepping circuit may be traced from battery throughthe winding of stepping magnet 82, middle contact of relay 78 to groundthrough the commutator 71.

Since the holding time is assumed to be sufiicient to allow switch 70 tocomplete its operation, this switch will continue stepping until thewiper 83 reaches the terminal 84. The relay 85 is next operated in acircuit from battery through its winding, left front contact of relay81, terminal 84, wiper 83 to ground at the right front contact of relay81. A parallel circuit is also completed from batte through theleftwinding of relay 52, le t contact of relay 51, wiper 58, inner leftcontact of relay 86, and thence to ground as traced at the contact ofrelay 81. Relay 52 operates and locks through its right winding tobattery at the outer left contact of relay 50. Relay 52 at its outerright contact opens the holding circuit of relays 78 and 81. When relay81 releases a circuit 'is closed from battery through the winding andcontact of the stepping magnet 82, right back contact of relay 81, wiper83, terminal 84, to ground at the left contact of relay 81. The switch70 thereupon steps to its normal position. a

With relay 52 operatedthe relay 85 locks in a circuit from batterythrough its winding and outer left contact, wiper 57, left contact ofrelay 52, outer right contact of relay 50 to ground through the contactand winding 0 relay 48. Relay 48 being marginal does not operate inseries with relay 85. Relay 85 closes an obvious circuit for slow relay86. The third time counting switch commences to operate being drivenstep by step by the magnet 87. The circuit for this magnet may be tracedfrom battery through its winding, middle left contact of relay 85, toground through the commutator As soon as the trunk 40 is released,which, under the assumption, occurs while the switch 80 is in theprocess of counting time, the relay 47 accordingly releases. Relay 47releases the relay 50 which in turn releases relays 51 and 52. Thecircuit of relays and 86 is also opened. Relay 85 releases ahead ofrelay 86 and closes a momentary circuit from ground through the innerright contact of relay 86, right back contact of relay 85, wiper 88,through the particular terminal upon which said wiper is standing to theproper punch pin selecting magnet.

Should a trunk be held for a time greater than the maximum counting timeof. the mechanism T1 the brush 89 of switch 80 finally reaches theterminal 90. In this position a circuit is closed from battery throughthe resistance 91, outer right front contact of relay 86, wiper 89,terminal 90, outer left front contact of relay 86, thence as tracedthrough the contact and winding of relay 48. With current flowingthrough two parallel paths, the relay 48 operates and locks to thecontact of relay 47. Relay 48 opens the circuitof relay 85 and alsoreleases relays 50, 51, and 52. When relay 85 releases a circuit isclosed from ground through the inner right contact of relay 86, rightback contact of relay 85, wiper 8 8, thence over conductor 92 to thepunch p1n selecting magnet representing the greatest holding time. Tnthis way all holding times exceeding the maximum are recorded by thepunch pin representing the maximum holdin time. v

ig. 6 represents a portion of the recording tape 6. The direction ofmotion is invdicated by the arrow. The perforation 92 indicates that atrunk was seized at the time of day marked on the edge of the tapeimmediately under the perforation.- The perforation 92 also indicatesthat the holding time of the trunk is a minimum, for example, fiveseconds. The perforation 93 indicates that a trunk was seized at thetime of day occurring directly under the. perforation and the trunk washeld for an interval of say ten seconds. Similarly other perforationsoccurring at varying dlstance from the edge of the tape we the sameinformation with respect to t etrunk seizures which they represent. Theperforation 94 would accordingly indicate that a trunk was held for themaximum interval. From this it will be seen that the time of seizure ofthe trunk may be read directly from the edge of the tape by arrangingthe punch pins at a diagonal with respect to the width of the tape.

Fig. 5 shows a portion of the apparatus for analyzing the tape after itsperforation. The perforated tape is caused to move over themetallictable 95 by any suitable driving mechanism such as shown in Figs. 1 and2. The brushes 96, which press against the paper, are connected each toa counting device 97 The counting devices 97 are also connected througha switch 98, to brushes 99. The brushes 99 engage a commutator 100. Thecommutator 100 is shown developed for simplicity and is so shaped thatas it moves under the brushes 99 the brushes close their circuits insuccession. The successive intervals of closure may be chosen tocorrespond to the intervals between successive holding time perforationsin: the tape. Thus a complete movement of the commutator 100 representsthe maximum holding time of a trunk. Accordingly, the total number ofoperations of the counting device 97 for a complete movement of thecommutator 100 equals the number of simultaneous calls at the particulartime of day which the endof that portion of the tape 6 represents. Itwill be understood of course, that as the tape 6 passes under thebrushes 96- whenever a perforation is encountered a circuit is closedfrom battery through the table 95 and the corresponding brush 96 throughthe counting device 97, switch 98, brush 99 to ground through thecommutator 100. In order that a reading may be taken at the completionof each cycle of commutator 100, the circuit of the driving motor may beopened by switch 106 to stop the mechanism.

If it isdesired to count the number of holding times of each differentduration which occur over any given por'tion of the day this ma be doneby throwing the switch 98 to its a ternate position. In this position, acounting device 97 operates whenever its associated brush 96 encountersa perforation representing a particular length of holding time.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of making a time record of apparatus-which comprisesperforating a tape in such manner that the location of a singleperforation indicates both the time of seizure and the holding time ofthe apparatus.

2. The method of recording the time of seizure and the holding time ofapparatus manner that the longitudinal position of the perforationindicates the time of seizure and the lateral positionthe holding time.

3. The method of recording the operation of telephone apparatus whichcomprises perforating a tape and measuring the distance between theperforations and the edge of the tape to determine the holding time ofsaid apparatus.

4. The method of recording trafiic over a group of trunks whichcomprises perforating a moving tape with a single-perforation per trunkin such a manner that the longitudinal position of the perforationindicates the time at which a trunk is seized and the lateral positionindicates the time during which said trunk is held.

5. The method of recording traffic over a group of trunkswhich-comprises perforating a moving tape and measuring the distancefrom each perforation to the edge of said tape to determine the numberof trunk seizures which endure for a given interval of time.

6. The method of recording traflic over a trunk group which comprisesperforating a moving tape in accordance with each holding time of atrunk in such a manner that the number of perforations in a line acrosswith the time of day, and means for perforating the tape opposite themark indieating the time said apparatus was seized and at a distancefrom the tapes edge indieating the holding time.

9. In combination, trunks, a paper, means for moving the paper at agiven rate, and means for perforating the paper in such manner that eachperforation indicates both the time of seizure and holding time oftrunk.

10. In combination, trunks, a paper, means for moving the paper at agiven rate, and a series of punch pins for perforating the paper atvariable distances from its edge to indicate the holding time of saidtrunks.

11. In combination, trunks, a tape, a series of punch pins arranged atsuccessively increasing distances from the edge of the tape to representvarious holding times of said trunks, and means to select and operatethe ins. p 12. In combination, trunks, means for seizing said trunks, apaper, a series of punch pins arranged at successively increasingdistances from the edge of the paper, each pin representing a differenttrunk holding time, a device for counting time during the engagement ofa trunk, and means con trolled by said device for selecting andoperating the punch pin corresponding to the holding time of the engagedtrunk.

13. In combination, trunks, means for seizing said trunks, a paper, aseries of punch pins arranged at successively increasing distances fromthe edge of the paper, each pin. representing a different trunk holdingtime, a time counting device comprising a plurality of progressivelymovable switches, means for seizing the device and setting the firstswitch in operation responsive to the engagement of the trunk, means forrendering the device busy while the first switch is operating, means forrendering the device selectable to other trunks when the first switchhas completed its operation, and

means controlled by said switches for select- Y ing and operating saidpins.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specificationthis 21st day of June 1927.

LINUS E. KITTREDGE. LOUIS A. DORFF.

